We have just released Automation Workshop v1.2

After more than 1/2 year of development, we have released Automation Workshop v1.2 (see list of changes). The most exciting new feature is Automatic backup.

We implemented automatic backup using our own Automation Workshop actions, namely, Zip files Action, Export registry Action, and a couple other. This means that Automatic backup is acting like regular Automation Workshop task — it writes in Service log file (success and failures), it can be easily extended or changed, users can even implement they own backup tasks easily.

Also, it is interesting to note that our internal automated test cases have just passed more than 1500 items. We are using a special kind of test driven development. Of course if we split all test cases into smaller peaces, there will be far more than 15,000 items, but in our metrics it is more that 1500, and each of the test case has taken [on average] more than 1 hour to build. So it is approaching a one year of full time work (WYE).

And one more thing, in 753 days Extended support for Windows XP will end. For our users this means, that after this date we will stop releasing fixes for Automation Workshop on Windows XP. Windows Server 2003 support will end about year later. Both Windows XP and Server 2003 are based on the same codebase, so most probably Automation Workshop will run on Windows XP a year after Extended support ends.

Febooti Software products tested on Windows 8 Developer Preview

When Microsoft releases a new version of Windows, everyone expects that all his/her software continue to work. Microsoft spends plenty of resources to ensure that upgrade to newer OS does not break anything.

We at Febooti Software also are paying much attentions to compatibility. A couple days ago Microsoft released the Windows 8 Developer Preview version with a new Metro interface. It is nothing near the final version and many things will change along the road of Windows 8 (Beta 1, Beta 2, Release candidate 1, RC2, etc.).

Currently all of or software are compatible with upcoming Windows 8 64-bit and 32-bit versions. Our discontinued software product – Febooti ieZoom toolbar is compatible with Windows 8 and Internet Explorer 10.

Below are some screenshots where our programs are running under Windows 8.

From scripting to Visual tool and back to scripting

In the beginning there was a IT World without an easy to use automation solution. Then came Febooti Software and in November 03, 2008 they released Automation Workshop. And IT professionals were happy, because they could create Automation Workshop’s Tasks using GUI, instead of writing boring Batch (.bat) scripts, VBScripts, JScripts or even PowerShell scripts.

This is our story. After the launch of Automation Workshop, we were happy, because many recurring tasks now could be created without writing single line of code. Our users were happy too, because they could reduce costs by using our software.

But time passed and support requests came in. And many people were perfectly satisfied with Automation Workshop, however they needed some small thing/tweak/feature/improvement that were not available using Automation Workshop’s standard features.

So now in year 2011 we released Automation Workshop v1.1 that features a new Action – Execute script.

This is Action that can execute JScript (.js), VBScript (.vbs), PowerShell (.ps1) and Batch (.bat) scripts. Now we are feeling that we are somehow returned to the starting point where users need to write scripts, write code instead of using elegant and intuitive GUI tool. But this is not the same place where we were in 2008. Now users can combine both strengths – Visual GUI tool and power of the scripting.

Also, it is interesting to note that this new action Execute script combines scripting from 3 different PC eras:

  • Batch file – 1981 (with the first version of MS-DOS);
  • JScript – 1996;
  • VBScript – 1996;
  • Windows PowerShell – late 2006.